Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s issuance of an arrest warrant as an "anti-Semitic measure" on the 21st local time.
"The aim of the move is to prevent us from trying to exercise our natural right to defend ourselves against our enemies who want to destroy us," Netanyahu said in a video address, adding that "this is a dark day in the history of the country."
At the same time, he refuted the ICC's criticism that he and former Defense Minister Joab Gallant had starved civilians in Gaza, saying, "Hundreds of thousands of tons of food were provided."
"Any outrageous decision against Israel will not stop us from continuing to defend our country," Netanyahu said, stressing that "we will not give in to pressure."
He then welcomed the White House's announcement that he could not accept the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant, saying, "Many friends from around the world led by the United States are gathering."
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